Soldier comes home to cheers and a hug

SYDNEY — Cpl. John Waye arrived home from a tour of duty in Afghanistan, Wednesday to a hug from his girlfriend and applause from the soldiers in his unit, the 36 Combat Engineer Regiment.

Canadian Forces reservist Cpl. John Waye hugs and kisses his girlfriend Ashley Whalen at J.A. Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport on Wednesday after arriving home from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

The 24-year-old Canadian Forces reservist was all smiles over the warm reception, looking happy to be home.

Fellow soldiers in his regiment, who lined the arrival area of J.A. Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport, broke into loud applause as Waye stepped through the doors.

Warrant Officer David Edwards said it’s customary for the unit to show up at the airport to show support.

Ashley Whalen, Waye’s girlfriend, was waiting to embrace him.

Whalen said she backed his decision to go to Afghanistan but was relieved to see him home.

“We messaged every day,” she said.

Mary Waye, his mother, was happy and proud to see her son return from the tour of duty.

Leaving in February, Waye did his tour at a camp outside Kabul teaching combat engineer skills, like recognizing improvised explosive devices and clearing mines, to the Afghan National Army.

“They don’t get as much training as we do, obviously, but we gave them the best training we could for survivability,” he said. “We were the last stop on their way to getting pushed out to wherever they were going.”

Afghan National Army members were also equipped with rifles, helmets, trucks and other equipment.

“We shook their hands on the way out, and then they went out into the fight.”

Canada pulled its combat troops from Afghanistan in the summer of 2011, leaving behind a team of soldiers to help train the Afghan security force.

Those soldiers are expected to be fully out of the country in 2014, in concert with the final pullout of all NATO combat troops.

The value of Canada’s mission sank in for Waye as he worked with the Afghan army.

“We are training these guys to keep their country together,” he said. “These are the guys who going to be there after we have left, and I made a lot of good friends there because you get to know the guys you are training and you hope they do well.”

“Unfortunately, a lot of them will die. The (Afghan National Army), they have high causality rates. But we trained them as best we could.”

Canadian Forces are also training the Afghan National Army on leadership, supply strategies and other elements of a successful armed force, and, hopefully, it will all come together and raise their chances for survival, he said.

Waye believes the coalition forces are making progress in Afghanistan.

“I mean some people wonder whether or not we have made progress. But especially if you talk to the guys who made multiple tours, they can not believe how far along Kabul has come.”

A Canadian solider can never forget the danger that surrounds them in Afghanistan, he said.

“It’ll be good to relax,” he said.

During Remembrance Day ceremonies this weekend, Waye will be wearing the medal presented to Canadians who have served in Afghanistan.

Canadian Forces reservist Cpl. John Waye hugs and kisses his girlfriend Ashley Whalen at J.A. Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport on Wednesday after arriving home from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post